Of all the leadership styles we discussed last Wednesday, the Situational Leadership Theory stuck with me the most. For those who forget, this is the one that states there is no one perfect style of leadership. A great leader will be able to shift their style based on what the goal is and who is being led. In this way a situational leader is versatile - able to respond to a wide range of scenarios. This appeals to me because I frequently find myself in different situations which require different styles of leadership.
In AFROTC leadership is very mission oriented. There is a goal and a leader does whatever needs to be done within reason to accomplish that goal. There is a very well known chain of command and following the orders of those above you is expected with 100% devotion. It makes sense that this is the case because in such an environment lives are at frequently at stake.
Amongst friends I can hardly expect nor would personally give the same level of obedience as in the U.S. Military. For this I would need to develop different leadership skills if I want to influence a group's decision. As in the Air Force I can expect a wide range of problems and issues that must be solved and focusing on a leadership style that is known for it's versatility would be beneficial. If anyone is interested here's an
article that discusses how the situational leadership theory is growing in today's military.
As far as the picture, I decided to go with this one. It's from the Institute for Social Change (ISC) website and I feel it connects to a lot of the main points the Social Change Model of leadership makes. In this picture everyone is collaborating equally and the highlighted person (i.e. you) is no higher than anyone else. The fact that the group of people holding hands spans the world speaks to how this model allows all people to be leaders. This picture demonstrates what I want to incorporate more in my leadership style. I can sometimes get excited and want to lead things more than my fair share. Over the course of this course I'd like to develop strategies to include others more when I am in charge, much like this picture shows.
3 comments:
I completely agree. Adaptability is key in so many aspects of life, no matter what one's occupation is. I like that the situational model encompasses all the other models. Nice post.
I really enjoyed how you shared your ROTC experiences. I think to wuite a few of us the military and the intensity of leadership it demands is a foreign concept so it was really cool to hear your perspective.
Your picture for Social Change was great too. It looked as though it not only promoted Scial Change action, but also Social Change unity.
Jake I completely agree with you. The situational leader has to be adaptable, or he or she won't be able to fit into any kind of leader's role. Your blog has really helped me think more about the military because it is an unknown thing to me.
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